Cyberpunk: Nirvana of Shoko Toyokawa

Xiangzi seldom dreams of fantasy things. She always dreams of things she has actually experienced.

Those "cyber analysts" with empty titles once said on TV that the type of dream content is related to the individual's pituitary gland-transmitter secretion-synaptic connection method.

Xiangzi didn't hate this.

Even in her dreams, the sense of control made her feel at ease.

But recently, Xiangzi has become very disgusted with dreaming.

Because recently...

Her reality provided her with too much unnecessary "creative material".

Just like today.

"..."

Xiangzi dreamed that her consciousness was forcibly uploaded and stuffed behind a black wall, traveling 2,000 kilometers in one second. She dreamed that she stabbed someone with a knife, and then was stabbed by someone else. Those green characters slid over her nose, reminding her that a hundred [Hellhounds] hacked into her brain, and then she was thrown down from a super tall building.

She dreamed of Roselia and Pastel*Palettes' convoy. She dreamed of Afterglow's [Scorpions] driving one after another towards the Toyokawa family's building. She dreamed of a huge explosion that destroyed the building with more than a hundred floors. She later didn't think it was a nuclear bomb explosion because the equivalent was too small, but she did feel that way in her dream. She fell from a high altitude to the road, and it felt like someone punched her in the chest. She was fine - why was she fine? She saw Hailing, Miaomeng, Chuhua and Mu falling near her - Hailing's face was the clearest, and she could see the blood spreading from under her.

There was a sharp pain in my forehead.

She dreamed that someone grabbed her hair.

Black high heels, black mask, and a decent Gothic Lolita style dress.

It's [Oblivionis]. She's here again.

"The City of Joy is always changing in places you don't know about, isn't it?" [Oblivionis] lifted Xiangzi's head from the ground and said to her, "The earth is shaking, and your path to the [peak] has become blurred. Maybe you don't have time to climb to the [peak] before everything changes, or maybe, what you want to climb is just a building on the sand. A city of the size of the City of Joy is not stable, because 'stability' does not exist anywhere in this world——"

Xiangzi sighed in his dream.

"I come here almost every day. It's too noisy."

she says.

She tapped her computer.

She executed a maintenance signal in her brain computer.

It is a mild electric current that can slightly stimulate nerves and is usually used to detect abnormalities in the connection between brain and machine.

...Recently, Xiangzi began to use it to wake up from sleep that he didn't want.

crackle.

The slight pain made Xiangzi frown.

Then, she slowly opened her eyes.

……

In the dim interior of the nightclub room, dim lights of ambiguous colors were slowly lighting up.

Xiangzi blinked and refocused her vision. She saw the cabinets and tables covered with soft velvet, the dim colored light strips surrounding the room, the bathroom with a frosted transparent glass door that could not be connected, and the entrance next to the bathroom.

At the entrance, there was a person leaning against the computer.

She was wearing a long black trench coat and standing with her back to the light. Under the black baseball cap, her bright hair had a matte texture in the shadows. She was operating a computer, her purple eyes glowing slightly in the dark.

"...Chuhua, you are here."

Xiangzi climbed out of bed.

Only then did she understand why she had dreamed of being grabbed by the hair by [Oblivionis].

Miao Meng, who was sleeping next to her, pressed down her hair.

Common things.

Xiangzi moved Miaomeng's hand away - she seemed to be doing this action more often -

In front, Chuhua looked at Xiangzi.

Her eyes glowed in the darkness.

As an idol, Chuhua is always smiling, which makes her look a little scary when she is not smiling.

Whenever this happened, Xiangzi would once again realize that Chuhua was once a "wild animal".

Xiangzi pushed Miao Meng to the side.

She stood up, pulled up the collar of the shirt she was wearing as pajamas, and turned on her computer.

A green interface was projected onto the retina. The team member location showed that the team member named [Timoris] was currently in Pastel*Palettes' territory.

More specifically, it is in the underground prosthetic clinic run by Yamato Maya in the Pastel*Palettes territory.

Vital signs are green and normal.

"Hai Ling's surgery is over." Chu Hua spoke in the darkness, "I waited until she was anesthetized before leaving. There was no problem with the surgery, but because of the trauma, it will take some time for the wrist and ankle to adapt."

"how long?"

"At least three days."

"It's the same as Hailing's own estimate." Xiangzi said.

……

Actions need to be carried out according to procedures to avoid problems to the greatest extent possible.

What stage, what to consider...

They are all fixed.

This is a bloody lesson learned from the corpses of countless mercenaries.

Of course Xiangzi did so. She would not be shaken by anything... like a novice.

After the meeting with Aoba Moka, the mission phase came to an end.

Next, it’s time for routine maintenance.

It's time to consider surgery.

Miao Meng was not injured, and Xiangzi was only scratched.

Hailing's problem was more serious. She was injected with a large amount of hemostatics, analgesics and antagonists, but still needed to replace the prosthetic components of her wrist and ankle.

Hailing originally wanted to go to Yamato Maya's clinic by herself.

She said her foot was "fine enough for walking".

However, Xiangzi took into consideration that everyone currently had a certain reputation - a reputation as a contender for [Phase 2 of Reclamation New Land] - and rejected Hailing's proposal.

"Not many people would think that we have returned from [Phase 2 of Reclamation New Land]," Xiangzi said, "However, there are exceptions to everything. If you are caught in your current situation, it will be difficult to escape. You must act more cautiously."

Xiangzi called Chuhua back.

"Chuhua, escort Hailing to the clinic."

she says.

"..."

Hailing was a little surprised by Xiangzi's decision.

Because the big task of "【Phase 2 of Reclamation New Land】moving in" is still in progress.

Chu Hua is an intelligence officer.

Logically speaking, convergence operations should be avoided as much as possible.

Hailing raised her doubts, but Xiangzi still gave the order on the grounds that "we need to change our strategy now."

……

"I returned [ARCH Nazaré] to her."

At the entrance, Chuhua said.

"Thank you."

Xiangzi said.

Xiangzi opened the message record received in his brain computer.

That was the funds she transferred to Hai Ling.

[Purchase record: Prosthetic ankle reinforcement (left ankle)]

[Purchase record: Prosthetic ankle reinforcement (right ankle)]

[Purchase record: Prosthetic wrist reinforcement (right wrist)]

These prostheses are all good.

The total cost of the three items was one million and five hundred thousand.

Adding the cost of surgery and other miscellaneous consumables, the final expense that Xiangzi received was 1.74 million.

Chapter 241: Reconciliation and Compromise

"(Hailing finally chose [Ankle and Wrist Reinforcement]."

Xiangzi looked at the receipt and thought.

Yamato Maya's prosthetic clinic is the best prosthetic clinic in the whole city of Joy. There, the number of prosthetic parts is like the stars in the sky.

However, if we limit the scope to [Combat] [Wrist and Ankle Joint] [High Quality] [Applicable to Reaction Specialties], the number is not that large.

Hai Ling's combat style is [Single Soldier Infiltration].

With her combat style, Hai Ling probably only has two options.

The first option is to install [ankle and wrist reinforcement] prosthesis.

This is a prosthesis whose main function is to absorb shock, usually used to cope with strong impacts that may occur in combat. This prosthesis equipped with high-output pneumatic rods can effectively reduce the damage to the joints in collisions, falls, stalemates, etc.

The second option is to install the [Lynx Claw] prosthesis.

This prosthesis is more focused on stealth. It will allow the person who wears it to move and run quietly, and the special cushioning layer will prevent the footsteps from being heard far away.

Xiangzi let Hailing choose the style of prosthetics by herself, because she always believed that only the person concerned could better understand what he or she needed.

However, Xiangzi certainly had a rough estimate in his mind.

...To be honest, she originally thought that Hai Ling would choose the [Lynx Claw] that could move silently.

After all, Hai Ling’s main focus is to sneak up on the enemy and then assassinate them.

But Hai Ling seems to have her own considerations.

Below the purchase receipt for [Ankle and Wrist Reinforcement], there is also a note:

[I will be able to fly next time. ]

Hai Ling left the following message there.

"..."

So, the [Ankle Reinforcement] prosthesis also has another effect, which is that it can temporarily release pneumatic pressure to perform acrobatic movements or move short distances in the air...

...Hai Ling's unique sense of humor sometimes makes Xiangzi feel exhausted.

……

"How's Sumimi's work?"

"In the past week, most of the work has been handed over to Mana. Originally, I was transitioning to independent action recently."

"The whole day tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, is your schedule empty?"

"empty."

"very good."

Xiangzi stood up.

Of course, Xiangzi changed the original personnel arrangement not only because of escort concerns.

It will take at least three days for Hai Ling to recover her ability to perform the mission.